Many home sellers are wondering if they can increase their Brooklyn Home’s Value now that the market seems to be shifting. With interest rate increases, the unprecedented hot market we were experiencing is cooling.
However, the cooling market does not mean you can not sell your home for the best price. I have seen the markets shift over my full-time real estate professional career. Homes will continue to sell even in a market shift.
As a Brooklyn home seller, it is understandable that you want to sell your home for top dollar. Homes that are in good condition and priced correctly will sell in any market. Your real estate professional can help you prepare for the sale of your home.
Let’s look at 5 tips to help maximize your Brooklyn home’s value.
Do your homework.
Research the local market conditions for your neighborhood. Depending on your area, there may be better or worse times to sell.
As the markets are shifting, it is best to use the services of a full-time real estate agent who knows your local market. If you want to market your property to the largest pool of possible buyers, list your property with a full-service real estate broker/firm. Now, before you pick up the phonebook or check that postcard you received in the mail, make sure to take the time to interview more than one agent or agency.
Find out if they are a REALTOR® — a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, a trade organization of nearly 1 million members nationwide. Members of NAR subscribe to a stringent code of ethics to guarantee the highest level of service and integrity. You may also want to know if they have any special designations requiring that real estate professionals take additional specialized training. In addition to qualifications, you should check the references of the agent. Make sure to speak with former clients to see if the agent is responsive and is available to keep you up-to-date with progress. You should have direct contact with your agent and be as comfortable as possible. The agent that handles your listing should:
- Include online and offline marketing in your marketing plan.
- Prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of properties in your area that have sold and are currently for sale.
- Help you determine the best selling price for your house.
- Provide recommendations for necessary home improvements.
When your house is on the market, potential buyers will make appointments to view your home, along with any planned open houses your agent may schedule. Try to evaluate the house for the first time. Buyers must envision living in the home, so take care to present the property in its best light. Imagine yourself in the shoes of a prospective buyer and evaluate the property starting at the front, then list the improvements that will be most cost-effective.
Clean and prepare your home thoroughly.
To increase your Brooklyn home’s value, you will need to do a top-to-bottom cleaning and decluttering of your home. If possible, hire a cleaning service.
You may need to paint walls (neutral colors are best) or remove dated wallpaper. If your flooring is worn or dated, consider replacing it. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. Display your best linens, towels, and shower curtains. Make the beds, and put fresh flower arrangements on the table. Finally, make sure that there are no offensive odors in the house. Odor is the first thing buyers notice and often a permanent turnoff.
Make your home a potential buyer’s new home.
Removing your personal pictures and other items will help potential buyers visualize themselves living in your home. There is an art to staging a home for sale. The psychology behind staging is to make rooms feel larger and help the buyer feel like they are at home. This article from the National Association of Realtors discusses the importance of staging even in a seller’s market.
Put away or pack small appliances and other items that might be sitting on countertops or tables throughout the house. You want buyers to visualize the space in each room, so removing as many smaller items as possible is best. By clearing shelves and bookcases, the buyer can begin to imagine their belongings in the space. Move excess furniture to make rooms more spacious. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Clean and organize the closets. You may want to rent a temporary storage unit to allow you to de-clutter every part of the house.
You can learn more about decluttering your home in this previous blog post.
The outside of the home is also essential.
A buyer’s first impression of your home may be a simple drive down your street. However, if the home’s exterior is neglected, the buyer’s impression may be that the inside of your home is also unkempt.
Proper landscaping can enhance the curb appeal of a home. Eliminate weeds, patch bare spots, fertilize, and water. Take a good look at the shrubbery. Bushes that have grown to cover windows should be pruned to let sun and light into the home. Fill in bare spots with small shrubs and colorful, fast-growing annuals, such as impatiens and petunias. A few well-placed flower pots by the front door can be very inviting. Today’s buyers want low maintenance. Ideally, you want an easy-to-maintain yard that looks beautiful.
Make your home available for showings.
When you’re selling a home, you need to be flexible. If buyers can not see your home when they are available, they will not see your Brooklyn home’s value. Your hard work to prepare the home will be to no avail. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.
Buyers don’t want to offend current owners, so they may be more hesitant to consider your home if you are present for a showing or open house. They feel funny about opening cabinets and closet doors with you in the room. If you are present, the buyer may ask a question that you innocently answer but can affect the negotiation of the sale. For example, the buyer may ask, “Why are you moving?” If you are moving for a job transfer, they now know you have to get the home sold so you can move on.
Whether you are moving for a job transfer, upsizing, or downsizing, the experience can be overwhelming. So many factors go into the sale of a home. Every seller wants to maximize their Brooklyn home’s value. Your real estate professional can help you achieve your goal.
Remember, the best time to sell a home is when you are ready. Even though the market may differ, you can still sell your home for the best possible price if it is in good condition and priced appropriately.
Contact me, Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent with Fillmore Real Estate, if you want to increase your Brooklyn home’s value. As a Brooklyn real estate agent with over 35 years of experience, I understand the real estate process, create a marketing plan, and can help you reach your real estate goals. Reach me by phone at (718) 253-9500 ext. 1901 or by email at [email protected].
